Benedict Cumberbatch is a very talented actor, someone able to take a role and mold it into something almost unrecognizable. Doctor Strange is a testament to this talent, with Cumberbatch taking a role that is supposed to be a snarky, overconfident, and all around jerk of a doctor. He strives to do his best, but only if he can further his fame and fortune with it. He spends money as fast as he earns it, and he treats his girlfriend like a second thought. He does all of this, and somehow still makes the audience like him.

Doctor Strange is the first theatrical film for the B-List marvel hero, and thanks to the excellent performance given by Cumberbatch and all the actors, including Chiwetel Ejiofor (Mordo), Rachel McAdams (Christine), and Tilda Swinton (The Ancient One) all land bullseyes with spectacular performances that bring the character to the big screen and a main stream audiences.

The plot of the film isn’t a Shakespearean classic by any means, but it does what it sets out to do and despite some pacing issues, the film does a great job of introducing the characters, setting, and lore of magic in a 2 hour run time. Dr. Steven Strange is a surgeon with incredibly steady hands, able to perform surgeries no other man can. However, his cockiness catches up with him on day, as a car crash crushes his hands and leaves him desperate for a cure. Eventually once western medicine has failed him for the last time, his search leads him to Asia, where he meets the Ancient One and Mordo, who decide to teach him their ways. However there are dark forces lurking that wish to bring destruction on the world with help from an immortal demon named Dormammu.

Considering that this is a Marvel movie, it comes with all the bells and whistles you would expect, but thanks to the new magic element, action scenes now have added eye candy and are able to differentiate themselves from other good action blockbusters. While it’s certainly not the best in its genre, it has a unique flair similar in vein to the Matrix, but without all the philosophical quandaries and black leather.

Overall, the film is a great addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe and does an excellent job of bringing this B-Lister into the limelight again. Hopefully this team is given another shot, similar to the Russo brothers, because this film was a perfect introduction to the world of magic and mysticism. Here’s too Phase 3 only improving from here.